Monster watching popular

There were no reports of new sightings of Murphysboro's Big Muddy Monster today, but it wasn't because no one was looking for him, or it, or whatever.

Murphysboro Police reported Riverside Park, the area of two sightings earlier this week, was a "beehive of cars."

Police said hundreds of cars drove through the park during the night and said there were several groups of overnight campers, some apparently trying to catch a glimpse of the city's latest mystery.

A creature described as seven feet tall, covered with white hair and mud, was reported seen by two people parked near the boat launching ramp near the east end of Riverside Park Monday night.

Tuesday night two teen-agers reported they saw a figure of identical description, near the back yard of a home in Westwood Hills Subdivision, just northwest of Riverside Park.

On July 25, 1972, Leroy Summers, Cairo, reported to Cairo Police that he saw what he described as a hairy, white, two-legged creature standing 10 feet tall. Summers reportedly spotted the creature near the Ohio River levee in Cairo.

Murphysboro police said several routine patrols were made through the Riverside Park area, but said no new reports were received of any unusual activity.

Murphysboro Police and Jackson County authorities found tracks in a grassy area near the Westwood home Tuesday night. A dog followed a trail to a barn on a vacant farm, but police found nothing in the barn.